FAQ Thread for the clueless to ask, and the veterans to answer. Since I got no clue whatsoever, I'll go first...

• How/when do I earn gold? Played a couple of matches. Killed some. Capped some flags. Won some matches. Still no single piece of gold.
• Repair generators and such? How to do it?
• Any pro tips? Especially for capture the flag. Also - if I ever earn enough gold to unlock something, what should I buy first?

• You've gotta buy that gold, duder. Gold is the cashmoney shortcut to unlocks. You should be earning credits, though; the poor man's gold.
• To repair generators, you've got to use a repair tool. If you're Technician class, you start with one, otherwise there should be little breaker box-looking things on the wall near the generator, run up to those and push G and you'll swap your active weapon out for a repair tool. To get your weapon back afterward, simply touch a supply pad.
• I'm no pro by a long shot, but flag capping generally seems to be done by the light classes, if you're a heavier class near the enemy flag, the best thing to do is to clear it of mines/turrets/forcefields so a Pathfinder or other light class can yoink the flag. Don't be afraid to just grab it if you're the only one in range and you have the opportunity, though.

As for unlocks, there might be some codes left for an unlock here: http://www.onrpg.com/MMO/event/Tribes-Ascend-Spinfusor-Giveaway

I'd probably focus on unlocking and playing the different classes to find which ones appeal to you and going from there :)

• Any pro tips? Especially for capture the flag. Also - if I ever earn enough gold to unlock something, what should I buy first?

@Jrinswand: I've played over 60 hours and I didn't even know there's a VIP status that will permanently give you extra XP, thanks for mentioning it.

@Jrinswand: I never payed attention to those bars, because I thought the VIP stuff is for a limited amount of time when you purchase a boost or gold.   It's a really smart move to make you put at least 10 bucks into the game, but that's as far as I go. I personally don't like buying items, I prefer to "earn" them over time.

• How does experience work in game? Is it affected by your performance, your team performance, time played, distance traveled, etc?
• How are people getting like 40,000 points per game? If I do really well I can get about 15,000. What are they doing that I'm not?
• How do you use the soldier, sentinel, and raider classes effectively?

@Pobearo said:

• How does experience work in game? Is it affected by your performance, your team performance, time played, distance traveled, etc?
• How are people getting like 40,000 points per game? If I do really well I can get about 15,000. What are they doing that I'm not?
• How do you use the soldier, sentinel, and raider classes effectively?

• It's almost exclusively based on your personal performance. If you travel the longest distance out of anyone in the match, you earn a medal that's worth bonus EXP.
• Those people are assholes. I have no idea how to get that many points.
• Soldier: Harass the midfield, defend your base. Sentinel: Stand as far away from everything as possible, somehow get headshots (I can't play Sentinel). Raider: Clear enemy flag for cappers, attack enemy buildings/generator, clear inside of own base.

@Ravenlight: Does the 200 credits you get for dying go towards the amount of experience you're getting?

@Pobearo said:

@Ravenlight: Does the 200 credits you get for dying go towards the amount of experience you're getting?

Not directly. Credits earned does not equal experience earned. However, you can get bonus EXP for spending the most credits in a match, so you can game the system a bit in certain situations.

Alright guys, I've primarily been playing as a Technician so far, but I get tired of running back and forth between the turrets, radar sensors, and generators all the damn time. I'm more of a defense type of guy (though I wouldn't mind learning how to play an Infiltrator one day), so I decided to explore some of the heavy classes a little more. The Juggernaut's not really my thing because I can't seem to get the hang of his fusion mortar. I built up some XP and eventually had to choose between the Doombringer and the Brute, so I chose the Doombringer, partially because the name reminded me of a song by a doom metal band called Reverend Bizarre. Plus, I like the idea of deployable shields around the flags, although the Brute's fractal grenade also seemed pretty cool.
 
SO ANYWAY, I've played a few matches with the Doombringer, but I can't seem to get the hang of his chaingun either. Not having splash damage as a crutch is pretty hard. Does anybody have any tips on how to use this class (how to properly set up the shields, how to use the chaingun, etc.)?
 
Edit: Also, I totally just used that free 250 gold from the Facebook thing to unlock the Infiltrator, so if you guys have any advice about how to play as that class, I would appreciate that as well.

@Jrinswand: The doombringer isn't really great until you get mines, the superheavy perk, and in my case the heavy bolt launcher. I couldn't use the chain gun well either because my frames per second is pretty terrible, so the bolt launcher is a lot more comfortable and useful for me. Mines are the main thing though, placing 3-4 mines around the flag and in sneaky locations is the doombringers main source of kills and assists. Getting mines is really what makes doombringer worthwhile.

Are the tanks any good in this game? I enjoy driving vehicles in battlefield the most and was wondering if the vehicles (specifically tanks) were any good in the new Tribes.

@Jrinswand: The doombringer isn't really great until you get mines, the superheavy perk, and in my case the heavy bolt launcher. I couldn't use the chain gun well either because my frames per second is pretty terrible, so the bolt launcher is a lot more comfortable and useful for me. Mines are the main thing though, placing 3-4 mines around the flag and in sneaky locations is the doombringers main source of kills and assists. Getting mines is really what makes doombringer worthwhile.

Just started playing this for some reason, and I'm liking it well enough, but I'm pretty terrible. What are the best key bindings for jetpack and ski?! I've messed with about a dozen different combos, and sort of settled on left shift for jump+jetpack and spacebar for ski, but it still doesn't feel right. Anyone got hot tips for key bindings?

@Ravenlight: @Jrinswand: @ing you guys 'cause you seem to know what you're talking about.

@PillClinton: I don't know what to tell you, man. Right click for jump and spacebar for skiing has always been fine for me. :/

@Jrinswand: Yeah, shift and spacebar are fine for me now. Turns out I was just bad and had to get used to it. Gettin' better now, and it's a pretty damn good time. Thanks anyway, man.